There is no doubt that the UAE is home to some spectacular properties. From penthouse apartments to plush villas with sprawling gardens and incredible pools, it’s a real estate haven.
Each week, The National showcases some of the finest homes on offer in its Property of the Week. Here, we take a closer look at a modern villa on Frond J of Dubai's Palm Jumeirah.
The key details
This 13-bedroom villa is spread across a double plot and measures in at 30,000 square feet. It comes unfurnished, has a private stretch of beach, views across to the Royal Atlantis development and Dubai Marina, and has a 20-foot outdoor pool and Jacuzzi at the ready. There's also a home cinema, gym and maids quarters.
It's on the market for Dh130 million with LuxuryProperty.com.
What's the story?
When we're young, we all dream of living in as big a house as possible, with endless rooms, sweeping staircases leading to different wings and exterior views to absolutely lose yourself in.
But how big can the imagination go? And, more importantly, how big can you go in reality?
The answer lies on a quiet Palm Jumeirah street, where the limits of ambition are pushed.
It's big enough to be a hotel — it's sandy exterior tones giving it the feel of one of those desert escapes where the sun sets in a brilliant orange just above the dunes.
Inside, it's a blank canvas waiting to be filled with treasures — even the basement is vast with room for 10 cars and a whole lot more.
The centrepiece living space is big on both size and views out towards the Marina area and — certainly until the furniture arrives — is of an area that would easily fit a game of indoor cricket with the bowler coming in off a full run-up. Howzat for luxury living?
The broker says...
Is this one of the biggest houses in Dubai (except royal palaces)?
As of right now it is the biggest ready villa for sale on the Palm Jumeirah for sure. No other villa on the Palm has such a huge basement and car parking area, in addition to this much built-up space on the ground and first and second floor.
Who needs 13 bedrooms? What’s the logic behind building a home this big?
The initial idea for the property was for the owner and his large family to live in it themselves, so creating a 13-bedroom option on the Palm allowed for every family member to have their own space, while still providing some additional room for guests. As it stands now, the property is very much like a boutique hotel on an exclusive frond of the Palm.
Could it have worked better as two separate homes?
The Palm Jumeirah is all about beachfront living in your own private sanctuary. This is a stunning mansion that is bigger than 95 per cent of the homes on the Palm and presents itself as a unique option both in terms of its design and the vast levels of space it offers. It is definitely best being kept as one big beautiful property.
How do you go about furnishing it in what would surely be a huge project?
Well, the job of a good real estate broker is to take care of this hassle for any new potential buyer. We have engaged one of the city's finest interior furnishing and fit out companies to create three separate turnkey templates for this property. Each of them is extremely modern, contemporary and stylish. All the buyer has to do is select one of the three templates and engage directly with the furnishing company to get it all finished within one to three months of taking possession of their new home.
Why would you buy here and not, say, in Emirates Hills for similar pricing?
It is very important to understand what each individual buyer wants as their ideal home here in Dubai. The Palm Jumeirah offers so many things that Emirates Hills cannot. In turn, Emirates Hills has certain aspects which you cannot have living on the Palm. To live on the Palm means that you are looking for a full lifestyle destination which revolves around the beach, the sea and in general, fun and healthy living. Emirates Hills is a fantastic place to live - but at the end of the day, there is only one Palm Jumeirah in the world!
- Riccardo Scala, director of the Private Client Office of LuxuryProperty.com
The End of Loneliness
Benedict Wells
Translated from the German by Charlotte Collins
Sceptre
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Australia
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360Vuz PROFILE
Date started: January 2017
Founder: Khaled Zaatarah
Based: Dubai and Los Angeles
Sector: Technology
Size: 21 employees
Funding: $7 million
Investors: Shorooq Partners, KBW Ventures, Vision Ventures, Hala Ventures, 500Startups, Plug and Play, Magnus Olsson, Samih Toukan, Jonathan Labin
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Roll of honour
Who has won what so far in the West Asia Premiership season?
Western Clubs Champions League - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens - Winners: Dubai Exiles; Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership - Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons; Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Dubai Exiles
West Asia Cup - Winners: Bahrain; Runners up: Dubai Exiles
West Asia Trophy - Winners: Dubai Hurricanes; Runners up: DSC Eagles
Final West Asia Premiership standings - 1. Jebel Ali Dragons; 2. Abu Dhabi Harlequins; 3. Bahrain; 4. Dubai Exiles; 5. Dubai Hurricanes; 6. DSC Eagles; 7. Abu Dhabi Saracens
Fixture (UAE Premiership final) - Friday, April 13, Al Ain – Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
Match info:
Leicester City 1
Ghezzal (63')
Liverpool 2
Mane (10'), Firmino (45')
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
GOODBYE%20JULIA
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Tabby%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%20August%202019%3B%20platform%20went%20live%20in%20February%202020%3Cbr%3EFounder%2FCEO%3A%20Hosam%20Arab%2C%20co-founder%3A%20Daniil%20Barkalov%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Payments%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%2040-50%20employees%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Arbor%20Ventures%2C%20Mubadala%20Capital%2C%20Wamda%20Capital%2C%20STV%2C%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Founders%20Capital%2C%20JIMCO%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Outliers%20VC%2C%20MSA%20Capital%2C%20HOF%20and%20AB%20Accelerator.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SPECS
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Credit Score explained
What is a credit score?
In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.
Why is it important?
Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.
How is it calculated?
The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.
How can I improve my score?
By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.
How do I know if my score is low or high?
By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.
How much does it cost?
A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.
The specs: 2018 Maserati GranTurismo/GranCabrio
Price, base Dh485,000 (GranTurismo) and Dh575,000 (GranCabrio)
Engine 4.7L V8
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Power 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 520Nm @ 4,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.3L (GranTurismo) and 14.5L (GranCabrio) / 100km
The%20Specs%20
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Venom
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed
Rating: 1.5/5
Company%20profile
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